Exclusive | Lens’ Adrien Thomasson on the Lille derby: ‘We are expecting a difficult match, and we hope that it will be difficult for them, too.’

RC Lens host Lille OSC in the Derby du Nord on Saturday night. Les Sang et Or’s captain, Adrien Thomasson (31), was bullish ahead of the encounter.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Get French Football News, Thomasson said that Lens will look to lean on the Bollaert atmosphere. “It is a special match, even more so when we play at home,” he began.

The Frenchman added, “With the supporters, we know that the atmosphere will be feverish, and as players, the rivalry with Lille exists, and we are dead set on beating them, for ourselves, for the club, and for the supporters. We are expecting a difficult match, and we hope that it will be difficult for them, too.”

LOSC are so far unbeaten this season, and have won three out of their first four matches. Lens have won two and lost two, although those defeats came against high-flying sides Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais. “For us, Bollaert gives us extra strength. I often have friends who play for the opposing team, and they are always apprehensive about playing in Lens, about playing at the Bollaert. From a mental point of view, it is a bonus, and we try to play on that to win the maximum amount of matches,” added Thomasson.

>> Read our full interview with Lens captain Thomasson HERE

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